This
JVC Video GC-4800U Camera and PV-4800 Portable Reel to Reel Video tape
recorder were one of the first Electronic News Gathering systems used in
the Capital Region of New York State in the late 1970s. The system was owned by then in Albany (later to
become and NBC affiliate), and operated by news photographers at the
station. The reel to reel unit was replaced later with a JVC CR-4400 3/4
inch portable deck.

They were put into use as the old film processing systems were being
replaced by ENG in and around Albany, NY. At that time WAST
was one of the first stations to put a microwave transmitting van into
electronic newsgathering service in the capital region.

The
microwave van pictured here used a crankupRohn tower section with a 6 foot rotatable2 GHz microwave dish to send electronic news signals back to our
studios in Menands, NYvia
our transmitter site atop Bald Mountain near Troy, NY.This camera and
tape recorder were retired from regular service when the station switched
to Ikegami HL-77 cameras and JVC ¾ inch cassette color video recorders around
1980.

I was a
transmitter engineer for WAST at that time and was doing local news
gathering in the Glens Falls, NY area in my spare time using 16 mm film. The
camera and video recorder were then given to me for news gathering purposes
and I used them for about5
years along with my two teenage sons who joined
me in news stringing and we covered many fires, accidents other news
stories. After service
in broadcast TV,The camera
and recorder were used to help Girl Scouts in South Glens Falls, NY learn about
television news production in the late 1980s.

Wow... in 1974 TheJVC Video GC-4800U Camera and PV-4800 Portable Reel to Reel Video tape recorder
wet on the market new for.... $6950 ... and that was in... 1974 dollars!
about half way down left column.

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